HOMEGROWN ROCKER 7/24/11 (STEVE McCULLEY MEMORIAL SHOW)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the July 24 edition of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com) and WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com).

This week, we previewed the upcoming second annual Steve McCulley Memorial Show, which takes place on Friday night, July 29, at Aldo’s in Altoona. The show will feature performances from Without Zerb, Half Tempted, I-Enemy and Railroad City Murder Machines, and raise money for the family of Steve, a popular Altoona area drummer who passed away unexpectedly last year. We discussed the benefit with Steve’s brother, Ryan McCulley, as well as I-Enemy guitarists Rich Johnson and Jody Earnest, and Without Zerb guitarist Jim Mincin. We also shared Steve McCulley memories, and featured never-before-aired live footage from Steve’s and Ryan’s former band, Korruption, recorded during a performance in May 1997 at Wanda’s in Mechanicsburg. Along the way, we debuted new songs from Gypsy Caravan, Zelazowa, Vision To None and Ajar. We updated “Local Music News,” stepped “Across State Lines” to check out a track from New Jersey’s Reverse Order, and reviewed The Good Seeds’ Buy Me A Kite CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner.”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

WAY DOWN EAST – “Modern Day Outlaws”
FLIGHT 19 – “3 of a Kind”
KORRUPTION – “Slash 17” (performed live 5/97 at Wanda’s, Mechanicsburg)
GYPSY CARAVAN – “Roll High”
KORRUPTION – “Coffee Shop” (performed live 5/97 at Wanda’s, Mechanicsburg)
MINDSPINE – “Move”
KORRUPTION – “Head Like a Hole” (performed live 5/97 at Wanda’s, Mechanicsburg)
ZELAZOWA – “Pretty Little Liar”

HOUR TWO:

THE EMBALMED – “Heaven Below”
KORRUPTION – “Sight” (performed live 5/97 at Wanda’s, Mechanicsburg)
THE GOOD SEEDS – “Seat on a Train”
KORRUPTION – “Would?” (performed live 5/97 at Wanda’s, Mechanicsburg)
VISION TO NONE – “Kobe Bryant Hardcore Dances Too”
KORRUPTION – “Dazzed” (performed live 5/97 at Wanda’s, Mechanicsburg)
REVERSE ORDER – “These Summer Nights” (Across State Lines)
AJAR – “Bassinette”

On our next show, we welcome band guests Gypsy Caravan from Harrisburg. We’ll meet the members, hear tracks from their self-titled 5-song EP, plus some additional electric songs from them as well! We’ll also update “Local Music News,” raid the local music archive for another “Local Music Flashback,” and review Atlas Soundtrack’s The Garden CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner.” Gypsy Caravan visits the “Homegrown Rocker,” next Sunday night!

Upcoming guests and specials include:

AUG. 7 – COVER SONG SPECIAL
AUG. 14 – RAPID FIRE
AUG. 21 – AREA AMERICANA SPECIAL
AUG. 28 – HIGHER FIVES
SEPT. 4 – GUITAR HEROES OF AREA MUSIC SPECIAL
SEPT. 11 – CANDLELIGHT RED
SEPT. 18 – RON GALLUCCI
SEPT. 25 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)
OCT. 2 – ACOUSTIC JAM SPECIAL
OCT. 9 – MYSTERYTRAIN
OCT. 16 – LIES, INC.
OCT. 30 – HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
NOV. 6 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)
NOV. 27 – (NO SHOW DUE TO STEELERS SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)

For regular updates on what is happening on the area music scene, pay a visit to Rockpage (www.rockpage.net). Rockpage features band links, a message board, "Homegrown Rocker" updates, live show and CD reviews in “JP’s Corner," and other local music scene information.

Bands and artists interested in having music aired on "The Homegrown Rocker" are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: WRKY Radio, One Forever Drive, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648; ATTN: Jim Price. Or drop the recordings off at the station during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9 AM - 5 PM. You can also email me with inquiries about the show at profjp@rocky1049.com.

Jim Price

In Local Music News…

Bassist Adam Zimmer recently parted ways with the band Candlelight Red, to devote more time to his family. Former Backstreet Law/Til December bassist Jamie Morral has replaced Adam in the Candlelight Red roster. Candlelight Red began opening a series of shows for Saving Abel this past week, and Jeremy Edge will be a guest on the “Homegrown Rocker” in early September to discuss the latest Candlelight Red happenings.

Big changes have been happening for former Altoona-turned-Baltimore rockers Vs. The Earth. According to the group’s Facebook page, singer Adam Marino has taken the reins and transformed Vs. The Earth from a rock group into a corporate entity called VTE Global, which is involved in various rock-themed product lines including music distribution, apparel, liquor and other merchandise. VTE Global has also launched The Syndicate, a guild of Baltimore area musicians including members of Vs. The Earth, that will perform in a variety of settings and situations.

There’s been a guitarist change for regional party rockers Gas Station Disco. Jason Dumm has joined the group to play guitar and sing lead alongside Cryssie Mullins, and replaces Dave Danishefsky in the roster. Gas Station Disco is currently playing a series of southern club dates, and returns to Pennsylvania stages in September.

Johnstown metallists The Embalmed began tracking songs this past week toward their next studio CD. According to guitarist and vocalist Chad Straw, the group is hoping to release the disc in early fall.

Former members of Spirit Lost and Skarma Sutra have merged into a new band project. Dust’n Bones features former Spirit Lost singer and rhythm guitarist Austin Tepsic; and former Skarma Sutra members Eric Umfress on guitar and vocals, and Max Musser on drums. The group is currently working on original songs.

Local rockers Highway Divide will be showing up unplugged on area stages in the next few weeks, as their drummer, Lee Marsalko, recovers from injuries sustained in a recent motorcycle accident. The “Homegrown Rocker” wishes Lee a speedy recovery.

And the Altoona area was saddened this past week by the passing of Darwin Bistline last Saturday, July 16, after a long illness. He was 83. Darwin was well known as the longtime band director at Altoona High School from 1966 to 1982. He led the Altoona High Band to much success, including first place wins in 15 competition parades, appearances at Washington, DC’s Cherry Blossom Festival, the Niagara Falls Festival, and in 1973, being named the Pennsylvania Official Band for the Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. He was also a private music teacher, and a saxophone and clarinet player for various bands, including the Fred Shannon Smith Orchestra, Windjammers National Circus Band, VFW Post 3 Band where he served as director, Jaffa Shrine Band and Altoona Community Theatre pit orchestra. Darwin Bistline touched and inspired many musicians and area residents over the years, and he will be celebrated and missed.